Kaitianite is an extremely rare titanium oxide mineral discovered within the Kaitian impact crater. It occurs as microscopic, opaque metallic grains associated with high-pressure impactites and is primarily of interest for advanced mineralogical study.
Is this kaitianite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch kaitianite with a known reference. Kaitianite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Kaitianite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kaitianite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains.
Often confused with
Kaitianite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads metallic on Kaitianite and submetallic on Manaccanite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Kaitianite leaves black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic on Kaitianite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside kaitianite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kaitianite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ti₂O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 5.79 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral to Subhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Impact Crater Rocks
- Typical price
- very rare, market price unavailable
Where rockhounds find kaitianite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kaitian crater, Guangdong Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in impact crater rocks country — that is the host setting where kaitianite typically forms. If you start seeing corundum, hibonite, spinel in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral to subhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kaitianite?+
Where is kaitianite found?+
How much is kaitianite worth?+
What rocks look like kaitianite?+
What minerals are found with kaitianite?+
What kind of rock does kaitianite form in?+
What is kaitianite used for?+
Find kaitianite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
